Steel OMC 3 gallon tank issue

FunInDuhSun

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 25, 2010
Messages
473
I’ve used this tank for 15 years. It has always worked fine with my 25HP Evinrude. This spring it wouldn’t feed gas at all, so I removed the line from the tank. It tested just fine, pumping gas thru the squeeze bulb like it should.
I don’t see a way to access the pickup inside the tank because it seems to be welded. I blew a bit of compressed air into the nipple and re-connected the line. When I pumped the bulb, gas flowed for about 3 seconds and stopped. I believe something is obstructing the pickup but I can’t see it. For some reason I can’t post an image….
Is this tank done? Any thoughts?
 

cyclops222

Lieutenant
Joined
Mar 21, 2024
Messages
1,307
When that condition of it works. Then stops. I have found a large BLOB of slimy that gets rolled over the pick up end. Stops flow until suction of the bulb is removed and the BLOB rolls away. I POUR the gas out on a concrete area to evaporate. I then hold the tank upside down and keep tilting around until the blob falls out. Have done a few that way.
 

airshot

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,084
I have used acetone to dissolve the crud in the past, just don't get it on any painted surfaces. !!
 

Texasmark

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
14,669
When I was a teenaged kid and getting started in my boat ownership, I thought the 2 tube OMC fuel line setup was cool.......being a stupid kid!!!!!
Decades later the subject came up and I realized that you pressurized the fuel tank to force fuel into the carburetor.

Well since everybody else had fuel pumps.....only requiring one hose, lo and behold I find out that OMC offered a fuel pump kit for these 1940's and 1950's (to name a couple of areas) engines.....walla, you could use any fuel tank. Who would have guessed!
 

JimS123

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Jul 27, 2007
Messages
8,163
When I was a teenaged kid and getting started in my boat ownership, I thought the 2 tube OMC fuel line setup was cool.......being a stupid kid!!!!!
Decades later the subject came up and I realized that you pressurized the fuel tank to force fuel into the carburetor.

Well since everybody else had fuel pumps.....only requiring one hose, lo and behold I find out that OMC offered a fuel pump kit for these 1940's and 1950's (to name a couple of areas) engines.....walla, you could use any fuel tank. Who would have guessed!
My classic woodie has a dual fuel line. It's period correct. With new lines and gaskets it runs like a new engine. If I put a fuel pump in the old girl and then showed her at a sanctioned meet, I would lose so many points that she wouldn't even place.

So far, 2 first places and a "Best Lyman In Show".

She's noisy and sucks gas like there is no tomorrow, but OMG that burning oil smell is what got me into boating back in the 1950's.
 

airshot

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,084
My classic woodie has a dual fuel line. It's period correct. With new lines and gaskets it runs like a new engine. If I put a fuel pump in the old girl and then showed her at a sanctioned meet, I would lose so many points that she wouldn't even place.

So far, 2 first places and a "Best Lyman In Show".

She's noisy and sucks gas like there is no tomorrow, but OMG that burning oil smell is what got me into boating back in the 1950's.
Gotta love them old Layman's !! Owned a couple myself, not show pieces, but great boats !!
 

FunInDuhSun

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 25, 2010
Messages
473
I have used acetone to dissolve the crud in the past, just don't get it on any painted surfaces. !!
Just wanted to update- the acetone treatment did solve the problem.
I also did it in my other steel tank as PVM. I let them dry for a couple weeks before using them. THANKS airshot and cyclops222!
 

airshot

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,084
My classic woodie has a dual fuel line. It's period correct. With new lines and gaskets it runs like a new engine. If I put a fuel pump in the old girl and then showed her at a sanctioned meet, I would lose so many points that she wouldn't even place.

So far, 2 first places and a "Best Lyman In Show".

She's noisy and sucks gas like there is no tomorrow, but OMG that burning oil smell is what got me into boating back in the 1950's.
Any pics of those Lyman's ??
 

JimS123

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Jul 27, 2007
Messages
8,163
PS....regarding the picture posting issues, doing an "attachment" didn't work, but a copy-and-paste did.
 
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airshot

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,084
Many thanks for the Lyman pics, brought back many fond memories...my first was a 15' rear steer with a 1956 30 hp Jonny. My father and mother had a 16' rear steer with the 35 hp golden Javelin
 
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